(StraightShooterNews.com) – Sparking widespread concern about its potential to spread uncontrollably, a severe outbreak of a mutated strain of mpox has been declared a public health emergency.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) are raising the alarm as this new strain spreads throughout the continent.
Since the beginning of 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recorded over 13,700 cases and 450 deaths.
Previously known as monkeypox, this new, more lethal and aggressive variant of the virus has now reached 12 additional African countries including Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya and Rwanda.
Declaring this situation a public health emergency forces governments to respond more quickly and may help increase essential medical supplies and aid to the impacted areas.
Africa CDC head Jean Kaseya emphasized the critical need for immediate action to prevent the disease from spiraling out of control.
“This declaration is not merely a formality. It is a clarion call to action. It is a recognition that we can no longer afford to be reactive,” he stated. “We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat.”
Meanwhile, health authorities worldwide are monitoring the situation to evaluate the risk of the outbreak expanding further.
Professor Marion Koopmans from the Pandemic and Disaster Management Center commented on the risk to Europe, stating it is “small although it is possible.”
Mpox typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Historically, most cases were reported in central and west Africa.
However, the World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency in 2022 due to a strain known as clade 2, which affected over 100 countries, including the U.K.
The DRC has long been dealing with its deadlier variant, “clade 1a.” Its fatality rate is about 5% in adults and 10% in children, compared to 3% for earlier strains.
In April, a new, more contagious strain labeled “clade 1b” was identified in Kamituga, a mining town in the DRC.
Clade 1b shows “pandemic potential” and led to a spike in cases in the country’s eastern regions.
Like the previous clade 2, the recent surge in infections in the DRC is mostly sexually transmitted.
Nonetheless, it has also been reported that the new strain spread through mere touch in schools and workplaces.
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